MTS Allstream tees off with Mike Weir for the Children's Hospital of Manitoba

WINNIPEG, June 4 /CNW/ - More than 100 MTS Allstream employees are volunteering for the 2010 Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive for Kids at St. Charles Country Club in Winnipeg, this Sunday, June 6, and Monday, June 7. MTS Allstream is proud to be a Platinum Sponsor of the event, proceeds from which will support the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.

"It's great to see so much support from our employees - with 100 of them volunteering at this weekend's Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive for Kids," said Pierre Blouin, Chief Executive Officer, MTS Allstream. "MTS Allstream is committed to supporting the communities in which we live, work and do business." said Pierre Blouin, Chief Executive Officer, MTS Allstream. "Our employees are always incredibly generous with their time and money, donating more than 50,000 volunteer hours every year."

The Golf Drive is a national fundraising initiative with a goal of raising $10 million for children's health care causes across the country. It is presented by The Mike Weir Foundation, benefitting the Children's Miracle Network, and in association with the National Golf Course Owners Association of Canada. This is the first time the event has been held in Manitoba. Past locations include London, Saskatoon and Halifax.

"I'm very excited to see Manitobans rallying behind this event in support of children's health care," said Mike Weir. "Generous support from sponsors will help the Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive for Kids get closer to its goal of raising $10 million nationwide for children's hospitals."

The tournament will begin on Sunday, June 6 with a sponsorship reception and continues on Monday, June 7 with a kick-off breakfast, followed by the tournament, a junior pro-am, a post-tournament lunch, and a golf clinic. The Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive for Kids Gala Dinner will be held that evening at the Fort Garry Hotel Spa and Conference Centre.

"The Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba welcomes MTS Allstream as a Platinum Sponsor of the Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive for Kids, as well as the many MTS Allstream employees who have committed their time as volunteers," said event co-chair Curtis Gray. "We thank MTS Allstream, once again, for coming forward to support the fundraising efforts of the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba, which will directly impact the advancement of knowledge and care in the fields of child health and child health research in Manitoba and across Canada."

MTS Allstream supports numerous community and charitable initiatives throughout Manitoba and across Canada, and actively facilitates the philanthropic and volunteer efforts of its employees and retirees.

About MTS Allstream

MTS Allstream is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. As one of Canada's leading national communication solutions companies, MTS Allstream provides innovative communications for the way Canadians want to live and work today. The Company has more than 100 years of experience, with 6,000 employees across Canada dedicated to a mission of delivering true value as seen through the eyes of our customers. MTS Allstream has nearly two million total customer connections spanning business customers across Canada and residential consumers throughout the province of Manitoba. The Company's extensive national broadband and fibre optic network spans almost 30,000 kilometres. MTS Allstream is a proud sponsor of Cindy Klassen, 2006 World Champion and Canada's greatest Olympian, and a proud contributor to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.'s common shares are listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange (trading symbol: MBT). Customers, stakeholders and investors who want to learn more about MTS Allstream services, markets, community commitments and record of creating shareholder value are encouraged to visit: www.mtsallstream.com.

About The Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive for Kids

The Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive for Kids has a single mission - to be golf's premier fundraising initiative to support children's health care. The mission is to ensure that all children receive the very best care, that children benefit from world class research and that care facilities are provided with funding for educational and support programs. The Mike Weir Foundation, Children's Miracle Network and the National Golf Course Owners Association Canada have joined forces to create something never done before - a concerted national effort to raise $10 million for children's health care.

About The Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba

Established in 1971, the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba works to support the special health care needs of children through reliable and consistent funding of equipment and programs at Winnipeg Children's Hospital and pediatric medical research at the Manitoba Institute of Child Health. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised close to $100 million. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.goodbear.mb.ca.